The so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was caught on video burning what appears to be the Palestinian flag. In the video below, we see ISIS members overtaking what is likely a government office building. But what they do next has caused outrage within many Palestinian circles.

ISIS members on the roof of the building take down the Pan-Arab flag, which is in fact the socialist flag adopted by Palestine. While visually similar to the flags of Jordan and Western Sahara, the Pan-Arab, socialist flag is identical to that of Palestine.

All draw their inspiration from the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule (1916–1918). Before being adopted by Palestine, the flag was used by the short lived Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan. The flag of the Arab Revolt itself had the same graphic form, with the color arrangement of white on the bottom, rather than in the middle. The Pan-Arab flag taken down by ISIS, however, and burned, is the exact same graphic and color ordering as that used by Palestine still to this day.

Many Palestinians are making a point of this, circulating this video on social media to highlight to the West just how dissimilar ISIS is from Islam. However much we all hate and reject the Ba`athist Assad regime and dynasty, burning the Pan-Arab flag which is most known for representing Palestine has highlighted for many in the Muslim world just how out of touch and even strangely “foreign” the ISIS terror group is in their actions.